Film Reviews - Cuba

Juan of the Dead / Juan de los Muertos *

*indicates co-production

Back to Countries List

Juan of the Dead & The Pact: Toronto After Dark Summer Screening Day 1

It was so much fun to have a slice of Toronto After Dark goodness this week, instead of having to wait all the way until October! Don't worry - the festival still will be in October (October 18 - 26, 2012 to be exact) which makes this festival goer happy as I've always favoured the fall and rev-up to Halloween with scary film goodness. But this Wednesday we had a taste of scares, blood and glory with the double bill of Cuban zombie film Juan of the Dead / Juan de los Muertos and supernatural horror of The Pact with Toronto After Dark Summer Screening Day 1 all at The Bloor Cinema. I'm still not quite used to the Bloor for festivals screenings yet, although one great edition they have for festival goers is that they can project on the big screen people on the stage (see pictures below), which is a great thing given that the balcony has seemed to become the seating area of choice. It also works nicely for video introductions, which the audience got treated to with The Pact writer/director Nicholas McCarthy who sent us a message expressing the thrill of having his film playing as a double bill. Pretty freaking awesome. We also started the night off with a great short animated film called The Ward that was full of creepy ideas and imagery following a man trying to escape a hospital ward. It may be the first short animated film that totally felt like an action version of a Twilight Zone episode, which made it totally awesome.

Speaking of films, let's get to them! Rather watch than read? Check out my Vlog!


Toronto After Dark Film Festival Founder and Director Adam Lopez introduces the Summer Screening at the Bloor



Juan of the Dead / Juan de los Muertos
Writer/Dir: Alejandro Brugués (Personal Belongings)
Cast: Alexis Díaz de Villegas, Jorge Molina, Andrea Duro, Andros Perugorría, Jazz Vilá, Eliecer Ramírez, Blanca Rosa Blanco
Cuba/Spain

What a way to charge into the double bill with the Cuban zombie film Juan of the Dead / Juan de los Muertos, full of zombie goodness and a heck of a lot of humour. The film stars Alexis Díaz de Villegas as Juan, our relaxed and very capable protagonist whom is oddly unnerved by the craziness of people attacking and eating each other. Why let it stop him living life? Instead, it's an opportunity to let him hone in on his survivor skills. He's not alone either as we have the faithful Lazaro (Jorge Molina) and his son California (Andros Perugorría) as well as outgoing China (Jazz Vilá) rounding out the mix of the band of misfits in this crazy journey. Zombie films are easily know for blood, brains and beheading and Juan of the Dead / Juan de los Muertos stays true to even more zombie roots as it throws in a healthy dose of social commentary to jazz up the setting and character motivations, and even combines them by showcasing their resilience to pretty much everything and anything you can throw at them. There is a fountain of creativity at work here, not only with an awesome new spin on the zombie film but with all of the great humour that had the crowd laughing and cheering along with the kills, the little victories and the ingenuity at every turn. Juan of the Dead / Juan de los Muertos was an undead treat and a great addition to the zombie genre.



The Pact (2012)
Writer/Dir: Nicholas McCarthy - feature film directorial debut
Cast: Caity Lotz, Casper Van Dien, Agnes Bruckner, Mark Steger, Haley Hudson, Kathleen Rose Perkins, Sam Ball
USA

I was really excited to see The Pact, with it's haunted house vibe and generally creepy feel I was totally stoked even before the film but it just got better as the story actually follows a pair of sisters with a tumultuous pass that starts to stir again after the passing of their mother. I really loved as Caity Lotz as Annie, she's a great tough girl that stares into the face of challenges and doesn't take any crap, but also is easily relatable when things start to get freaky. I loved the sense of mystery in the film and was very impressed by the storytelling that how things unravelled throughout and it even had me guessing which is very impressive given that I watch a heck of a lot of supernatural and horror films. There are lots of scary moments and ideas in the film and it reads just as well as a thriller as it does as supernatural horror. The characters are compelling and nicely stray off the beaten track not only with the aforementioned Annie, but also in the haunting Stevie played by Haley Hudson who adds and elemental edge to the film; plus Casper Van Dien does a great job in the local law enforcement role. The Pact was fabulous, it really kept me off balance in a good, engaging way and had some great stares but behind it all was a fantastic mystery that unfolded at the perfect pace. I can't wait to see it again.

The Toronto After Dark Film Festival Summer Screenings return in just under 2 weeks on July 11, 2012 with Detention and V/H/S. See more about the screenings here, see more information at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival website or Buy Tickets to the Summer Screenings Here.


In between screenings I had the rare chance of capturing the new Bloor sign with a beautiful dark blue sky behind it. Just beautiful!

Film Fan Fridays for Friday June 29, 2012

Hello Film Fans and Fanatics!

Welcome to Film Fan Fridays for Friday June 29, 2012! Leading into this holiday weekend we have a whopping 8 films to choose from, plus the summer classic of Jaws playing at Lightbox and continuing the summer superhero rush with The Amazing Spider-Man out early next week.

In limited release this week we start with 2 documentaries to enjoy including Flamenco, Flamenco from director Carlos Saura who also brought us the dance film Fados and our second documentary is Town of Runners centred on a group of runners from Ethiopia. Our third limited release of the week is Dark Horse from director Todd Solondz (Life During Wartime) following love of late bloomers. Plus, if you are a fan of shark films and loved to be scared check out Jaws playing at Lightbox all week.

In wide release this week we have five films chose from and what better way to start Canada Day weekend thank with a Canadian film? The Canadian film of the week is most definitely Sarah Polley's Take This Waltz starring Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen and Luke Kirby, and I think it looks very interesting. We also have Magic Mike from Steven Soderbergh starring Channing Tatum as a stripper, drama People Like Us starring Chris Pine and Elizabeth Banks, comedy Ted starring Mark Whalberg and a teddy bear (who else is confused???) and Tyler Perry's latest with Madea's Witness Protection.

And after your weekend fun has come to a close, next week we have the mid-week release of The Amazing Spider-Man (in 3D) on Tuesday July 3, 2012. Superhero film bookending the North American holiday weekends. That's going to be a big pick for folks this week I'm sure.

Have a great weekend!

Shannon

Festival Watch

Italian Contemporary Film Festival
Continues until July 1, 2012 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

ReelHeART International Film Festival
The Filmmakers Film Festival
June 27 - 30, 2012 at The Projection Booth in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Toronto Korean Film Festival
Continues until July 1, 2012 at Innis Town Hall in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Friday June 29, 2012 Releases

Dark Horse
Writer/Dir: Todd Solondz (Happiness, Life During Wartime)
Cast: Justin Bartha, Selma Blair, Mia Farrow, Jordan Gelber, Christopher Walken
USA
Limited Release
Film Facebook Page, IMDb Page, Trailer

Flamenco, Flamenco
writer/Dir: Carlos Saura (Salomé, Goya en Burdeos, Fados)
Documentary
Spain
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Magic Mike
Dir: Steven Soderbergh (Oceans 11, The Informant!, Che, Haywire)
Cast: Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matthew McConaughey, Matthew Bomer, Joe Manganiello, Riley Keough, Cody Horn, Olivia Munn
USA
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

People Like Us (2012)
Dir: Alex Kurtzman - feature film directorial debut
Cast: Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks, Olivia Wilde, Michael Hall D’Addario, Philip Baker Hall, Mark Duplass, Michelle Pfeiffer
USA
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Take This Waltz
Writer/Dir: Sarah Polley (Away From Her)
Cast: Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Luke Kirby, Sarah Silverman
Canada/Spain/Japan
Film Facebook Page, IMDb Page, Trailer

Ted
Dir: Seth MacFarlane - feature film directorial debut
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Joel McHale, Giovanni Ribisi, Seth MacFarlane
USA
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Town of Runners
Dir: Jerry Rothwell (Donor Unknown, Heavy Load)
Documentary
Ethiopia/UK
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Tyler Perry's Madea's Witness Protection
Writer/Dir: Tyler Perry (Madea's Big Happy Family, For Colored Girls, Why Did I Get Married?)
Cast: Tyler Perry, Eugene Levy, Denise Richards, Romeo Miller, Tom Arnold, Doris Roberts, John Amos, Marla Gibbs
USA
Film Facebook Page, IMDb Page, Trailer

Tuesday July 3, 2012 Releases

The Amazing Spider-Man
Dir: Marc Webb (500 Days of Summer)
Cast: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan
USA
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

**please note this list of releases reflects first run film released in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as of June 29, 2012**

Toronto After Dark Summer Screenng 2012: Juan of the Dead and The Pact

Taking a look at the first night of the Toronto After Dark Summer Screening with Cuban zombie films Juan of the Dead and haunted house flick The Pact.

• I mention the Canadian zombie-comedy film Fido
• I mention the book Down a Dark Hall, in particular the font that the title is in on the book cover.
• I mention Starship Troopers, has it really been 15 years since then? Really?
• I share that my You Tube Channel went like just a few weeks ago, feel free to check out more vlogs there.
• If you are into the supernatural and paranormal, feel free to check out Hexed: Sisterhood of the Supernatural a paranormal TV podcast I co-host with my sister Suzie and we chat all about fiction and non-fiction paranormal shows.
  

See more about the screenings here, see more information at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival website or Buy Tickets to the Summer Screenings Here.

Live and Let Die ~ Bondathon Film 8

Time to check in on our eight film of the Bondathon: Live or Let Die

Mentioned in this vlog:

• Live or Let Die stars Roger Moore as James Bond and is directed by Guy Hamilton
• See the original Bondathon post with schedule and film listing, and my introductory vlog about the Bondathon.
• I am starting to notice a theme of the plots of the Bond films being rather forgettable.
• I also notice that the stylings of the films are continuing to be one of my favourite things about films (except the high waisted pants!).
• I mention Yaphet Kotto who is in Live and Let Die as well as Alien & Homicide: Life on the Street.
• I talk a lot about the use of The Tarot in the film, in particular the fact that they switched decks at one point. The decks they use in the film are both The Tarot of the Witches (this is the correct name) as well as The Rider-Waite deck.
• Decks in the Film: The Tarot of the Witches and The Rider-Waite Deck (traditional)
• Decks I Show in the Review: The Yeagar Tarot of Meditation, Arcus Arcanum Tarot Deck and Morgan-Greer Tarot Deck (very traditional); plus a mystery deck! If you recognize it, please share the name!
• See my vlogs for previous films in the Bondathon with Dr. No, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, On Her Majesty's Secret Service and Diamonds are Forever
• You can also hear my Bondathon reviews as a part of the Movie Moxie Podcast

Up Next for the Bondathon: The Man with the Golden Gun

Live or Let Die Images:


Images of the Tarot Decks show in my video:

DVD Releases June 26, 2012

Time to take a look at a selection of DVD releases for Tuesday June 26, 2012!



Images: Mirror Mirror & The Artist (Courtesy of Alliance Films); Gone Little Mosque on the Prairie (Courtesy of eOne Films)

• Father's Day this amazing and button pushing film from Astron-6 and Troma is out on a 4 Disc Set (BluRay, 2xDVD and CD) and it's guaranteed to freak you out. I saw it at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival in 2011 and I named it the best cult film of the festival with the icky-ist imagery and it certainly had one of the best Q&A's (see here). It's not for the faint of heart but for true cult fans. See my original vlog review of Father's Day here.
• Mirror Mirror Tarsem Singh's turn on the Snow White tale with Lily Collins as Snow White and Julia Roberts as the evil queen. Beautifully styled and very fantasy oriented, this one is a film I really wanted to check out.
• The Artist Winner of 5 Oscars this year The Artist won the hearts of many with it's old school silent film charm. Stars Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo and John Goodman.
• 21 Jump Street reboot of the 80's TV show about cops going over in high school, this revisioning with Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill looks like it takes the comedy and runs with it and is certainly on my to see list.
• Gone I was quite impressed with this thriller starring Amanda Seyfried as a survivor who is not taken that seriously, it's very interesting to see the different take and response her character gets from people and should be on any to see list for folks interested in gender dynamics.
• Wrath of the Titans Sequel to the 2010 Clash of the Titans reboot which yet again stars Sam Worthington as the hero Perseus. Also out this week is a Titans 2-Pack with both Wrath of the Titans and Clash of the Titans on BluRay (Amazon.ca only).
• Oranges & Sunshine stars Emily Watson as a social worker that takes on the task of reunited estranged families not only with the children separated from their families but also lead to believe they parents are no longer alive. Based on a true story, this one even the trailer can bring me to tears.
• Once Upon a Time in Anatolia co-winner for the 2011 Cannes Grand Prix this Turkish film has take the festival circuit by storm as well as having quite an impressive limited release run.
• TV on DVD this week including the Canadian drama Little Mosque on the Prairie: Season 5 Trailblazing (Amazon.ca only) and Damages The Complete Fourth Season which stars Glenn Close, Rose Byrne, John Goodman and Dylan Baker.
• Christopher Nolan Director's Collection (BluRay) impressive collection of Nolan's work including Memento, Insomnia, Inception, Batman Begins & The Dark Knight; and just in time for folks looking to rev up their Nolan watching pre-The Dark Knight Rises this July.
• A Thousand Words comedy starring Eddie Murphy as a man who literally is on a countdown to only saying a maximum of 1,000 more words.
• Plus: Book to Film Club November reading selection Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks is being released in paperback. See more about the 2012 Movie Moxie Book Club here and sign up for updates here.
  

Titles on Amazon.ca(Canada):


Titles on Amazon.com (US):

Red Lights ~ Movie Passes Giveaway Toronto Screening with Q&A Cillian Murphy and Rodrigo Cortés

Cillian Murphy with RED LIGHTS Director Rodrigo Cortés

Want to see an advance screening of the paranormal thriller Red Lights with director Rodrigo Cortés and actor Cillian Murphy in attendance for a Q&A? You know you do! Here are the film details:

Synopsis: "Two investigators of paranormal hoaxes, the veteran Dr. Margaret Matheson and her young assistant, Tom Buckley, study the most varied metaphysical phenomena with the aim of proving their fraudulent origin.

Simon Silver, a legendary blind psychic, reappears after an enigmatic absence of 30 years to become the greatest international challenge for both orthodox science and professional skeptics.

Tom starts to develop an intense obsession with Silver, whose magnetism becomes stronger with each new manifestation of inexplicable events. As Tom gets closer to Silver, tension mounts, and his worldview is threatened to its core..."

Red Lights stars Cillian Murphy, Robert De Niro, Sigourney Weaver, Elizabeth Olsen and is directed by Rodrigo Cortés. Here are the movie passes giveaway details:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Toronto Red Lights Screening Details including Q&A with director Rodrigo Cortés and actor Cillian Murphy:
Date: Wednesday June 27, 2012; Showtime: 7:00 PM (Doors: 6:00PM)
Location: TIFF Bell Lightbox at 350 King Street West in Toronto, ON M5V 3X5
Click here for Screening & Enter PIN of 56A 35E B01

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There are a limited number of passes for the screenings, so act quick!

Want to increase your chances for next time? Sign up for any of the Movie Moxie Newsletters as subscribers get first chance at any contests or giveaways. You can sign up here.

Thank you to Alliance Films for the movie passes giveaway!

Red Lights trailer:



Robert De Niro as “Simon Silver” in RED LIGHTS. Photo Courtesy of Alliance Films


Red Lights Poster Courtesy of Alliance Films